Costs of buying a home

This content applies to Scotland only.

Housing laws vary between Scotland and England. This page applies to Scotland only. Get advice relating to England

Besides the cost of your mortgage, there are other things you need to take into account when buying your own home. This page looks at the costs of finding a home and arranging a mortgage, including the deposit, insurance, stamp duty and registration fees.

Costs of finding a home to buy

When you buy a home, you will need to pay for a solicitor to carry out the legal work involved. You will also need to pay for a valuation and survey of the property you want to buy. Read more 

Other mortgage costs

As well as your mortgage payments, you will also need to budget for a deposit, arrangement fees and possibly also mortgage protection and a mortgage indemnity guarantee. Read more 

Stamp duty and fees

When you buy a property, you may need to pay a tax called stamp duty. You will also have to pay for your solicitor to register your ownership of the property, and to record the standard security. Read more 

Other costs of buying a home

If you are selling your old home in order to buy a new home, you may need to take out a bridging loan if the sales do not coincide. You may also need to take into account the cost of moving to your new home, and any increase in living expenses that's likely to occur. Read more